The Centre for Bible Engagement, Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, invites you to join us for our 4th Annual Biblical Studies Seminar focussing on the theme of Bible and Gender on 27 February (Monday), 9am-5pm. The central focus of our Biblical Studies Seminar is intentional interdisciplinary in nature where we gain insights and perspectives from other related disciplines.

​Is gender a subjective reality where we are male or female because we perceive ourselves as such? Is gender socially constructed according to certain stereotypes or culture? Is there a difference in gender identity as reflected in the Bible? In the age of rapidly increasing gender fluidity, can one still hold on to the traditional roles of gender identity? Are gender roles mentioned in the Bible normative for all times? What do other fields of studies inform us of gender issues?

This seminar aims to address these issues from an interdisciplinary approach covering biblical, gender studies, and psychological perspectives.
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Our Team of Speakers

Rev Grace Kwan Sik Tsoi, PhD Candidate, University of Divinity (Whitley College), Melbourne.
Rev Tsoi was born in Hong Kong and migrated to Australia with family at high school. She studied in the University of New South Wales and was awarded BSc (Med), B. Medicine, B. Surgery. Upon graduation she was called to full time ministry, so she left the medical field and entered seminary studies, and was awarded B.Th (Hons) from the Sydney College of Divinity. She pastored the Chinese Congregation of Canberra Chinese Christian Church from 2009-2015, and was ordained in 2013. She is currently working on her PhD, focusing on the book of Judges.

Rev Tsoi will present a paper entitled, “Gender in Old Testament Narratives: Stereotypes, Interpretations and Cultures.”

Rev Dr Leonard Wee, Lecturer in New Testament, Trinity Theological College (TTC), Singapore.
Rev Dr Wee is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore (PCS). He worked in the banking sector for five years before obtaining his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. After pastoring for 10 years (7 years as the lead pastor at Hope Presbyterian Church), he was sent as faculty-in-development by TTC and the PCS Synod to study at Durham University, with scholarships from the Brash Trust, the Council for World Mission and TTC. He completed his PhD studies in 2013 under the supervision of Professor Francis B. Watson.

Rev Dr Wee will present a paper entitled, “The Ordination of Women in the Presbyterian Church in Singapore: A Biblical Evaluation”

​Dr Sharon Bong, Associate Professor of Gender Studies, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University Malaysia.
Dr Bong graduated with a Ph.D. in Religious Studies (2002) and M.A. in Women and Religion (1997), University of Lancaster, UK. She has authored The Tension Between Women’s Rights and Religions: The Case of Malaysia (2006) and edited Trauma, Memory and Transformation in Southeast Asia (2014) and Re-imagining Marriage and Family in Asia: Asian Christian Women’s Perspectives (2008). She is currently consultant to and former coordinator of the Ecclesia of Women in Asia and a forum writer for the Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church.

Dr Hera Lukman, Registered Chartered Health Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.Dr Lukman obtained her BA (Hons) at Simon Fraser University, Canada, her MSc at the University of Sheffield, UK, and her PhD at the University of Leeds, UK. For the past 15 years, Hera has taught Psychology at several Universities in the UK and Malaysia. Her areas of interest include appearance evaluation, eating behaviour and sexuality. As a Christian Psychologist, Hera is passionate in integrating Psychology with Biblical principles in understanding personhood and one's identity in Christ. Dr Lukman will present a paper entitled, “Navigating Gender Identity: Is There a ‘Redemptive Space’ in the Church?”

The European Research Council announces the opening of the website for the project "Re-thinking Judaism’s Encounter with the Roman Empire: Rome’s Political and Religious Challenge to Israel and its Impact on Judaism (2nd century BCE – 4th century CE" (short title: "Judaism and Rome"). The website can be assessed by clicking here.

The website states that one may "find useful resources for studying Roman imperial ideology, or Roman imperial discourses, artefacts and performances, displayed in literary records, epigraphy, numismatics, as well as through monuments, statues and other material artefacts."

The website aims to:

give access to some important sources, providing as much information as possible: images, original text, translation…

provide the reader with an original and detailed analysis of each source, a service that is very rarely offered on the internet, and which makes this website comparable to a rich sourcebook

Author

I am a Lecturer in New Testament Studies and also an ordained minister. You can find out more about me by clicking here.

Blog

My engagement in conversation with issues, reflections, and concerns related to my vocation as a seminary lecturer and theological education in general. Opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my personal views and do not represent the official position of the seminary